Control valve device



Nov. 13, 1945. c. s. KELLEY 2,389,058

, CONTROL VALVE DEVICE Original Filed 0ct.'30, 1942 NEUTRAL STOP 1 STOP'SLOWK/ /-5Low oswmnm W2;

IN V EN TOR.

Cecz'Z S Kelley BY v ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 13, 1945 CONTROL VALVEDEVICE Cecil S. Kelley, Forest Hills, Pal, assignor to The WestinghouseAir Brake Company, Wilmerding, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaOriginal-application October 30, 1942, Serial No.

163;915. Divided and this application February 28; 1945, Serial No.580,258

Claims.

defining a maximum pressure position of the manual operating lever andfor automatically moving saidlever out of said position upon relief ofmanual force on thelever, and also embodying means adapted to render thecontrol valve device ineffective to limit pressure of delivered fluidwhen said pressure exceeds a chosen degree. Other objects andadvantageswi-ll be apparent from the following more detailed descriptionof theinven-tion;

In the accompanying drawing, the single figure is a sectional view of acontrol valve device embodying the invention;

Description As shown in. the drawing, the improved. control devicecomprises a bracket I upon the upper face of which is secured a basemember. 3, by cap screws 4. A casing section 5 is. secured by cap screws(not shown) to the lower face of the base member 3 within the bracket I.

The base member 3' has two vertically extending parallel arranged endwalls only one of which is shown in the drawing and designated by thenumeral 8, and betweenthese end walls the base member is provided witharaised portion 9. The raised portion 9 has a chamber I I1 adaptedto beconnected to a .device (not shown)v to be controlled by variationsin'pressure of fluid, and separated by a wall I2 from a chamber I3provided above a flexible diaphragm Id. The two chambers I land I3 arein permanent communication with" each other through a stabilizing chokeI5.

The diaphragm I4 is'clamped around its edge between the lower face ofthe base member 3 and the adjacent end of the casing section 5. Anoppositely arranged and axially aligned flexible diaphragm I6 is clampedaround its edge" between the opposite end of casing section 5 and acover IT. A chamber IB- is formed between the diaphragm I6 and cover ITand is in constant communication with the atmosphere through an openingprovided in an insect exclud-er I9'. The adjacent faces of the, twodiaphragms I- I- and It are open to chambers and 2|, respectively,

which are in permanent communication with each other through a passage22 provided in an annular rib 23 projecting inwardly from the casingsection 5 above the diaphragm. I5. In use, chamber 20 is constantlysupplied with fluid under pressure from any suitable source by way of asupply pipe I'l' connected to the bracket I and opening to a passage 18in the base member 3 which passage in turn opens to a passage 19 in thecasing section 5, the passage 19 leading to chamber 20. I

The rib 23 supports in chamber 2!] one end of a control spring 38 theopposite end of whichbears against an annular spring seat 39. The seat39 is mounted on a stem 21 and urged by spring 38 against a shoulder 48'on said stem. Th spring 38 is fully expanded with the parts of thedevice in the position shown and is operative to oppose downwardmovement of the stem 21 and thereby of diaphragms I4 and It from thisposition, as will be hereinafter described.

The central portion of diaphragm I4 is clamped between two followers 24and 25, the follower 25 engaging an annular collar 26 provided on "stem21, which stem extends through the chamber'ZB and said followers anddiaphragm into chamber I3. A nut 28 disposed in chamber I3 hasscrewthreaded engagement with the wall of a bore 29 provided in the endof stem 21 and is tightened against the follower 24. r

The rib 23 has a bore lined with a wear bushing 30 arranged in axialalignment with the two diaphragms I4 and" i6, and the stem 21 extendsthrough this bushing and centrally through the diaphragm I6 into chamberI8. Above the rib 23- thestem 21 is reduced in section to provide ashoulder 32; and a wear sleeve 3| is mounted on this reduced portion ofthe stem with one end in engagement with said shoulder. The sleeve 3!extends through bushing 39" in sliding contact therewith and itsopposite end contacts a follower 33 which is disposed in chamber 2! incontact with the upper side of the diaphragm I6. The stem 21 extendsthrough follower 33 and a follower 34 mounted against the oppositeface'of the diaphragm I6, and a nut 35 providedon the end of stem 21 inchamber I8 is tightened against the follower 34" clamping same centrallyto one side of the diaphragm I6 and thereby securing the follower 33against the opposite side of the diaphragm.

An adjusting screw 36 having a screw-threaded connection with cover I!extends through said cover into chamber I8 in alignment with nut 35forengagement thereby. A look nut 31 is'provided on screw 36 for enagement with the ex terior of the .cover I! to lock said screw in anadjusted position.

The nut 28 above diaphragm I4 has an upwardly extending sleeve-likeprojection 40 the end of which is mounted to slide in one end of asleeve 4|. This end of sleeve M is secured in a hole through wall I2 andthe sleeve extends through chamber I I and the opposite wall thereof inthe raised portion 9 of the base member I to a point above said raisedportion.

The bore 29 in the diaphragm connecting stem 21 is in permanentcommunication through a smaller bore 42 and one or more radial ports 43with chamber 20 and contains a fluid pressure supply valve 44 having afluted tem 45 extending through an axial bore provided in nut 28 intothe projection 40 thereof wherein it contacts a fluid pressure releasevalve 46. The nut 28 is.

provided with a seat for engagement by the valve 44 and a spring 49extending through bore 29 and -42 acts on said valve for urging sameinto contact with said seat.

A plunger 50 is slidably mounted in sleeve 4I above the release valve 46and is provided with an annular groove in which there is disposed asealing ring 52 contacting the bottom of said groove and the wall ofsaid sleeve for preventing leakage of fluid under pressure from achamber 53 below the plunger to an annular chamber 54 above the plunger.The chamber 53 is in permanent communication with the interior of thesleeve projection 40 of nut 28 and through one or more radial ports 55in sleeve 4| with chamber II. The chamber 54 is constantly open to theatmosphere through one or more radial ports 55 provided in sleeve 4|above the plunger 50.

The .plunger 50 has a portion 51 of reduced section depending therefrominto chamber 53 and provided with an axial bore opening through a valveseat on it lower end which is provided for engagement by the releasevalve 45. .The release valve 46 has a fluted stem 58 extending throughthis bore into a bore 59 of larger diameter in which there is slidablymounted a spring seat 60 having one or more openings 6| adjacent itsperipheral edge connecting the spaces at opposite sides of said seat.The plunger 50 also h'as an upwardly projecting portion 62 of reducedsection extending through chamber 54 and in sliding engagement with aninturned collar 63 provided at the upper end of sleeve 4 I. 59 extendsto a point above collar 53 where it joins a screw-threaded bore 64. Justbelow the end of the screw-threaded bore 64, the portion 52 of plunger50 has two oppositely arranged radial bores 55 in which are disposedpins 65 extending from opposite ends ofa cylindrical spring seat 51which is of slightly smaller diameter than bores 55 so that said seatmay be inserted into bore 59 through either of the bores 55. A coilspring 68 is disposed in bore 59 under pressure and acts at one end onthe spring seat 61 and at the opposite end on the spring seat 60, thisspring biasing the release valve 45 to its open position shown andmoving the spring seat 61 upwardly until the pins 56 engage theuppermost portions of the bores 65 in which position the spring seat 61is held against longitudinal movement and thus secured within the bore59.

An operating screw I0 is threaded into bore 64 and on its outer end isprovided with a head II. A look nut I2 on screw is arranged to engagethe end of the extended portion 62 of plunger 50 for securing the screwI0 in an adjusted position.

A coil bias spring I3 under pressure encircles the portion of sleeve 4|extending above the raised portion 9 of the base member I and issupported at one end on said member while its opposite end bears againsta ring-shaped seat 14 secured on the portion 62 of plunger 50 bysuitable interlocking means 15. r

Directly above the operating screw 10 and extending at right angles tothe axis thereof is an operating shaft I which is journaled at oppositeends in the two end walls including the end wall 8. A cam I is mountedon shaft I20 above the screw 10 and a, key I29 secure said am forrotation by said shaft. A manual operating lever I3I is provided forturning the shaft I20 and cam' I26 to a neutral position in which it isshown in the drawing and out of said position in either direction. Forthe purpose of illustration the lever I3I may be turned from neutralposition in an ahead zone or direction to stop, slow, full and startpositions, and in an astern zone or direction to reversely arranged likepositions, which positions are indicated by legends in the drawing.

A fulcrum bar I48 extends between and is carried by the end wallsincluding the end wall 8, and an end of said arms is rockably mounted onsaid rod.- The opposite or free end of said arm is disposed between theperipheral surface of cam I26 and the head II of the adjusting screw I0in the upper end of plunger 50, said free end being provided on one sidewith a rounded surface 200 having sliding contact with the screw head'II. In the opposite side of the free end of arm I52 is a recess formedbetween two jaws 20I and in which is disposed a roller 202 mounted tor011 on a pin 203 carried by said jaws. The roller 202 is thus alignedfor contact with the peripheral surface of cam I26 and it is constantlymaintained in contact therewith by the pressure of spring 13 appliedthrough seat 14 to the extension I2 of plunger 50 and thus through thesurface 200 on arm I52 to the roller 202.

In the peripheral surface of cam I26 is a recess 204 arranged to receivethe roller 202 with the operating lever I 3I in its neutral position.The screw 10 in the extension 52 of plunger 50 is so adjusted that withthe lever I3I in neutral position and with the diaphragms I4 and I5 intheir normal positions and with the supply valve 44 seated as shown inthe drawing, the release The bore 0 valve seat on the depending portion51 of the plunger 50 will be spaced from the release valve 46 a chosendistance due to the action of spring 58 on the stem 58 of said valvewhich maintains same in constant contact with the stem 45 of the supp yvalve 44.

At one side of the recess 204 the cam I26 is provided with a surface 205for contacting the roller 202 while at the opposite side of the recessis an identical surface 206 for contacting said roller, these twosurfaces being arranged reversely so that the surface 205 will displacethe roller 204 and thereby the plunger 50 from normal position shown inthe drawing in a downwardly direction upon movement of the operatinglever |3I from neutral position into the "ahead zone, while the surface206 is provided to accomplish the same result upon movement of lever I3Iin the opposite direction from neutral position into the astern zone.

Referring particularly to surface 205. When the control lever I3I isturned into the ahead zone, this surface is arranged to move thedepending portion 51 of the plunger 50 into engage- --1et it be assumedthat the operating 16V61'fjl3l -is:in.neutrali positionand that theadjusting screw TD has been adjusted to allow, in said posi- 'ment'withthe release valve 46 and to then actuate said valve toopen the supplyvalve 44 to a .certain extent by the time the operating handle attainsthe stop position. Further movement of the operating lever l3l from stopposition to full position in the "ahead? zone will-then providegradually an increased displacement of the plunger 50 in a downwardlydirection. Continued movement of the operating lever from full to startposition in the ahead zone will'then provide still further downwardmovement of, the plunger 50 and preferably of a greater degree for theextent of lever movement than obtained between the slow and "fullpositionsfor-corresponding movement of the operating lever. The end ofsurface 285 opposite recess 2B4 joins an. abrupt rise 29! formedsubstantially at the radius of roller 292 and which is provided forcontact with said roller in the start position of the operating leveri3! for defining such position and preventin movement of said lever pastsame.

The portion of surface 205 engaged by roller 294 between the full. andstart positions is of such slope that the pressure of spring 13 appliedthrough the roller. 2B2to said surface tends to return the lever l3!from the start position to the full position. The purpose of thistendency is to automatically return lever I31 from start position tofull position upon removal.

of manual force from said lever and this may be obtained by the soleaction of spring 13 as just described.

From the above description it will now be seen that plunger 50 willoccupy its most elevated position with respect to cam 126 when theoperating lever i3! is in its neutral position and due to action of camsurface 2'55 upon movement of said lever out of said position into theahead zone, said plunger will be displaced downwardly from its normalposition to an extent dependent upon the position of the operating leveraway from neutra position, the maximum displacement of said plungerbeing attained in the.start position.

Upon movement of lever I3 from' neutral position into the "astern zonethe cam surface 205 and an abrupt rise 208. at the end of said surfaceopposite recess 204 is arranged to function identically to surface 2B5and rise upon movement of the operating lever l3l in the ahead zone asabove described.

An inverted substantially U-shaped cover 2!!) extends over and iscarried by the end walls including wall 8 and is secured at oppositeends to the base member 3 by screws 2 l2.

Certain parts of the structure'shown in: the drawing have not beendescribed since-a description thereof is not essential to a clearunderstanding of the invention, but, if desired, reference may be madeto the parent application hereinbefore referred to for a completedescription thereof.

Operation ance that acting on the other diaphragm; Also tiomiunseatingof the release valve 46 with the control spring 38 fully expanded. As aresult, chamber H' and chamber 13 will be open to at- 'mosphere past therelease valve 46, spring seat chamber 54 surrounding the-extension 62 ofplunger 52 and thence through port 56.

Now let it be assumed that the operator moves the operating lever [3! to"stop position in the ahead zone. This movement-actuates the cam i2ii-tomove plunger 5!] into seating engagement with the release valve 46 andto then move said valve tounseat the supply valve 44 to a slight extent.Fluid under pressure supplied to chamber 2i1- between the two diaphragmsthen flows past the supply valve 44 to chamber H and thence to thedevice (not shown) to be controlled by such pressure. fluid; is thussupplied to chamber ll it also flows from said chamber through thestabilizing choke 15 to chamber l3 above the diaphragm [4 wherein thepressure increases substantially. with the increase in chamber H. Whenthe pressure thus obtained in chamber 13 and acting on the upper face ofdiaphragm i4 becomes increased to a sufilcient degree to overcome spring38, the diaphragms 14 and I5 are deflected downwardly relative to thesupply valve 44 and finally moves nut 28 into" engagement with saidvalve for preventing further flow of fluid under pressure to chambers IIand 13'. The supply valve 44 is thus closed in a position of thediaphragms' I4 and IS and in a pressurecondition of spring 38 determinedby the extent of downward movement of said valve by the cam I26 andtherefore by the position of lever HI, and it may be assumed that thisoccurs when the pressure in chambers H and I3 is increased to a degreesuch as ten pounds. with the operating lever in the stop position;

If? the lever is now moved from stop position'to slow position in theahead zone the supply valve 44 is displaced downwardly'further and outof seating contact with nut 28 following which fluid will again flowfrom diaphragm chamber 20 to chamber H and thenceto chamher is; Theconsequent increase in pressure. in chamber i3 will then move thediaphragm l4 downwardly to again cut-off thesupply of fluid past thevalve 44 when thepressure in chamber t l" isincreased to a degreecorresponding to the new position of the supplyvalve 44 as determined bythe control lever I31 in the" slow position.

the end of nut 28 will occur to allow further flow of fluid underpressure from chamber to chamher I! and thence to chamber l3 at theupper side of diaphragm i4 and as a result the diaphragm i l will bedeflected downwardly further againstspring 38 and again cause seatingofthe nut 28 against the supply valve 44 when the pressure in chambers Hand I3 is increased to the degree called for by the position of theoperating lever. The pressure attained in chambers H and IS in slowrposition of lever It' l may for instance be twenty pounds per squareinch'while that attained-in full position may be of a degree such assixty pounds. If'instead of being moved to the full position the lever 13i ismoved to a position intermediatetth'e slow At the same time as 'andfull positions, in the ahead zone, the

-slow position of the operating lever.

' will again be unseated for increasing the pressure of fluid inchambers II and I3 which will cause further downward movement of thediaphragms.

However, upon a slight downward movement of the diaphragms in responseto this increase in pressure in chamber I3 the nut 35 on the end of thediaphragm connecting stem 2| will preferably engage the adjusting screw36 and limit such downwardmovement to a position in which the supplyvalve 44 will be maintained open in order that the pressure in chambersII and I3 may increase to the maximum degree effective in chamber 20between the diaphragms, or to a pressure such as eighty-five pounds.

' Upon removal of manual force on lever I3I "in' the start position,said lever will automatL cally be returned to "full position by forceshereinbefore described and aided by the pressure of fluid in chamber I Iacting in the plunger 50. Since the pressure in chamber I3 willinitially hold'the diaphragms I4 and I6 against movement by spring 38upon such movement of lever I3I, spring 41 will hold the supply valve 46seated and the depending portion 51 of plung- -er 50 will therefore bemoved by spring I3 and the pressure of fluid in chamber II acting on Isaid plunger away from the release valve 46 which at this time will beheld against movement by spring 68. As a result, fluid under pressurewill flow from chamber II and chamber I3 past the release valve 46 tothe atmosphere. When the pressure of fluid in chamber I3 above diaphragm'I 4 is thus reduced sufliciently, the spring 38 will move thediaphragms I4 and I6 in an upwardly direction and through the supplyvalve 44move' the release valve 46 into seating engage- -ment with thedepending portion 5'! of plunger 50 at the time the pressure of fluid inchambers II and I3 becomes reduced to the degree (sixty pounds) calledfor with the operating lever I3I in the full position.

If the operating lever I 3| is now returned from full to slow positionthe consequent upward movement of plunger 50 by spring I3 will againunseat the release valve 46 as a result of which the pressure in chamberI I and in chamber I3 above the diaphragm I4 will again reduce past therelease valve 46 and as this reduction takes place the diaphragm spring38 will move the diaphragms I4 and I6 upwardly to cause seating of 'therelease valve 46 at the time the pressure of fluid in said chamberbecomes reduced to the degree (twenty pounds) corresponding to the Ifthe operating lever is returned only part way from full position towardslow position the pressure in chambers II and I3 will be correspondinglyreduced, as willbe apparent. If the lever is now returned from slowposition to stop position, the plunger 50 will again be moved away -fromthe release valve 46 by spring 13 and the pressure of fluid in chamberII and chamber I3 -above the diaphragm I4 will then reduce and thespring 38 will act through spring 41 to seat the release valve 46 whenthis pressure is' reduced .to the degree (ten pounds) determined by theposition of the operating lever. Return of the operating lever I3I toneutral position will permit plunger 50 to move to a position in whichthe release valve 46 will remain open a shown in the drawing and abovedescribed.

Since the surfaces 206 and 208 in the cam I26 are the same as thesurfaces 205 and 201 except for being reversed, it will be evident thatif the handle I3I is moved into the astern" zone, the valve structure,including plunger 50, diaphragms I4 and I6 and the supply and releasevalves 44 and 46 respectively, will operate in the same manner as abovedescribed to provide in chambers I I and I3 the same pressures of fluidin the cor responding but reversely arranged positions of lever I3I.Also, engagement between the cam surface 208 and roller 264 will definethe astem start position of lever I 3I, and upon removal of manual forcefrom said lever, the pressure of spring 13 and of fluid in chamber 53 onthe end of plunger 50 urging the roller 200 against surface 208 willautomatically return said lever to the adjacent full position.

Summary From the above description it will now be seen that the valvestructure including the diaphragms I4, I6, the supply valve 44, releasevalve 46 and plunger 50 constitutes a self-lapping valve mechanism whichis operable to provide fluid in chamber I I, for controlling a device(not shown) which may be connected to said chamber, at a pressure whichincreases in proportion to the extent of movement of the manuallyoperable lever out of neutral position in either direction to therespective full position. Upon movement of lever I3I past either fullposition to the respective start position, the stop 36 becomes effectiveto maintain the supply valve 44 open so that the pressure of the supplyfluid in chamber 20 may become efiective in chambers I I and I3. Theparts 266 and 20'! in the cam I26 define and prevent movement of thelever I3I beyond either of the start positions, and engagement betweenthe roller 202 and either of said parts under the pressure of spring I3and of fluid in chamber 53 on plunger 50 is adapted to automaticallymove said lever out of either of said positions to the adjacent fullposition upon removal of manual pressure on said lever.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A control device comprising in combination, a self-lapping valvedevice including a'movable abutment subject on one side to pressure offluid in a chamber and operable with said abutment in a normal positionto open said chamber to atmosphere and upon movement of said abutmentfrom said normal position in one direction to provide fluid in saidchamber at a pressure proportional to such movement, a cam operative tocontrol movement of said abutment. and a lever for operating said cam,said lever and cam having a normal position providing for normalpositioning of said abutment and being movable from said'normal positionto a second position to actuate said abutment to provide fluid at acertain pressure in said chamber and being further movable to a thirdposition for providing fluid at a reater pressure in said chamber, meansarrangedto resiliently secure said cam and lever in said second positionagainst movement by pressure of fluid in said chamber on said abutment,said cam being so designed as to render pressure of fluid in saidchamber acting on saidabutment in said third position effective to urgesaid cam and lever from said third position to said second position.

2. A control device comprising in combination, a self-lapping valvedevice including a plunger subject on one side to pressure of fluid in achamber and operable with said plunger in a normal position to open saidchamber to atmosphere and upon movement of said plunger from said normalposition in one direction to provide fluid in said chamber at a pressureproportional to such movement from normal position, a roller engagingsaid plunger, a cam having a cam surface engaging said roller, a leverfor turning said cam, said lever and cam having a normal positionproviding for movement of said plunger to normal position and beingmovable from said normal po sition to a second position for actuatingsaid roller to move said plunger against pressure of fluid in saidchamber to a second position for providing a chosen increase in pressurein said chamber, said lever and cam being movable to a third positionfor effecting a greater movement of said plunger against pressure offluid in said chamber for providing a further increase in such pressure,the surface of said cam engaging said roller being so designed that insaid third position said roller is engaged by said cam oversubstantially a quarter of its circumference to prevent movement of saidcam and lever past said third position and for defining such position,means for resiliently securing said cam and lever in said secondposition against pressure of fluid in said chamber acting through saidplunger and said roller, the surface of said cam between said second andthird positions being so formed as to render pressure of fluid in saidchamber acting on said plunger effective to urge said cam and lever fromsaid third position to said second position.

3. A control device comprising in combination, a self-lapping valvedevice including a movable abutment subject on one side to pressure offluid in a chamber and operable with said abutment in a normal positionto open said chamber to at mosphere and upon movement of said abutmentin one direction from said normal position to provide fluid in saidchamber at a pressure proportional to such movement, a manually operablelever, a cam secured to turn with said lever and arranged to control theposition of said abutment, said cam and lever having a neutral positionproviding for movement of said abutment to normal position and beingoperable upon movement from neutral position in one direction to efiectmovement of said abutment against pressure of fluid in said chamber to adegree proportional to the extent of movement of said lever from saidneutral position and being operable upon movement from neutral positionin the opposite direction to effect like movement of said abutmentagainst pressure of fluid in said chamber, a roller engaging said camproviding the operating connection therebetween and said plunger, thesurface of said cam at each extreme position from neutral position ofsaid lever cooperating with said roller to define and prevent movementof said cam and lever past such position.

4. A control valve device for regulating the pressure of fluid in achamber comprising in combination, a plunger subject on one side topressure of fluid in a chamber, a control spring, a movable abutmentsubject to the opposing pressure of said spring and of fluid in saidchamher, and valve means operable by said plunger upon movement of saidplunger in the direction against pressure of fluid in said chamber tosupply fluid from a source to said chamber and upon movement in theopposite direction to release fluid under pressure from said chamber,said abutment being movable against said spring upon an increase inpressure in said chamber and by said spring upon a reduction in pressurein said chamber to effect operation of said valve means to either cutoff the supply of fluid under pressure to said chamber or the release offluid under pressure therefrom at a pressure in saidchambercorresponding to the position of said plunger, and means operative torender said abutment immovable by fluid pressure in said chamber uponincrease in such pressure above a chosen degree to thereby render saidplunger operative to maintain said valve means in the condition openingsaid, chamber to said source of fluid pressure.

5. The combination with a self-lapping fluid pressure control valvedevice of the type comprising a casing, two spaced coaxially aligneddiaphragms in said casing means connecting said diaphragms for movementtogether, said casing having intermediate said diaphragms a wall, and aspring supported on said wall and acting against the adjacent face ofone of said diaphragms the opposite face of which is subject tovariations in fluid pressure in a pressure chamber, of a cover membersecured to said casing over the opposite face of the other diaphragm andcooperating with said other diaphragm to form a chambe open to theatmosphere, and an adjusting screw having screwthreaded engagement withsaid cover and arranged for engagement by the diaphragm connecting meansto limit downward movement of said diaphragm by pressure of fluid insaid pressure chamber.

CECIL S. KELLEY.

